Extension pipe-tongs.



W. HOSIER.

EXTENSION PIPE TONGS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1o, 1913.

mummm WITNESSES Patented Mar. 31, 1914 72' INVENTOR Wma ATTO R N EY cAsume-ron n c Ts rima WESLEY HOSIER, OF MERCER, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO PARNELL G. MCKENNA, OF MERCER, WISCONSIN.

Application filed March 10, 1913.

To all 1li/0m t may concern Be it known that I, vWESLEY Hosinn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Mercer, in the county of Ironand State of VVisconsin, have invented a new and useful ExtensionPipe-Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in extension pipe tongs,and its object is to provide a pipe tongs which may be utilized tosupport and hold pipes or rods which have been lowered into a boring orwell in such manner that additional sections may be applied without thenecessity of employing a separate pair of tongs or pipe wrench for thepurpose.

In deep drilling such as diamond drilling, a rod or pipe carrying thedrill is lowered into the bore and as the boring proceeds additionallengths must be attached and the same is true with the placing of pumpsin deep wells.

While the applicability of the present invention is by no means limitedto use with the drill rods in diamond drilling, the invention will, forsimplicity of description, be considered as used for such a purpose, butwithout limitation thereby solely to such purpose.

In the commonly practised mode of lowering drill rods into bores, it iscustomary to support the rod by a device commonly known as or similar tothe common pipe clamp which is applied to the drill rod, and by means ofwhich a wrench or other device is clamped tightly around the rod andrests upon the top of the casing which rises out of the bore. Now whenit is desired to apply an additional section of rod, or, disconnect asection2 it is necessary for a workman to employ at least two wrenchesor pipe tongs, one to operate upon the section being applied ordisconnected, and the other to hold the sections within the boring fromturning, the pipe clamp not being provided with means for holding itagainst turning, since its only function is to support. the pipe or roddepending from it.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pipe tongswhich may be adjustable as to size of grip to grasp pipes or rods ofdifferent diameters, and in conjunction with the handle members there isprovided a manipulating lever coacting with a specially formed part ofone of the.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

serial No. 753,412.

handle members and connected to the other handle member in a manner tobring a gradually increasing pressure to bear in a direction to closethe jaws upon the pipe or rod to be gripped. This manipulating memberand the handle with which it coperates are provided with locking deviceswhich will hold the parts in adjusted positions against accidentaldisplacement, while the tong jaws are s o shaped and associated thatthey will readily rest upon the rod. When properly applied the tongs maybe employed to prevent rotative movements of the pipe or rod whileadditional sections are being applied thereto or disconnected therefrom.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with thefurther understanding that while the drawings show a practical form ofthe invention the latter is not confined to any strict conformity withthe showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long aslsuch changes and modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved tongs asapplied to a pipe indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view toFig. 1 but showing the other face of the tongs with the clamping handlein longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with thejaws spread to their fullest extent and the clamping handle shown inlongitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 withdistant parts omitted. Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of the jaw end of thetongs.

Referring to the drawings there are shown two jaw members 1, 2, havingtheir gripping ends laterally thickened and from these thickenedportions extend handle members 3, 4, respectively, which are thinnerthan the jaws so that the two handle members may be crossed and theircombined thickness where crossing be only that of the laterallythickened jaw portions. The handle member 3 is formed with an elongatedslot 5 through which there extends a pivot pin or bolt 6 also traversinga corresponding portion of the handle member 4. 0n the side of the slot5 remote from the jaw 1 the Vhandle member 3 is gently curved backwardlyand is appropriately extended into a manipulating or grip portion 7while at the curved portion the handle member is provided with one ormore perforations 8 designed to be traversed by a pivot pin or bolt 9for a purpose to be described. rIhe other handle'portion 4 is quitesharply curved, as indicated at 10 and from its curved portion thehandle member is continued in a reversely curved portion 11 nallyterminating in a grip or manipulating extension 12 corresponding t0 themanipulating extension 7 of the handle po-rtion 3. In the crown orconvex part of the curve 11 the handle portion 4 is laterally thickenedt0 form curved ledges 13, the curvature being such as to be in more orless eccentric relation to one or the other of the perforations 8 of thehandle portion 3 and on the peripheral or crown portion of the curve 11midway of the ledges 13 there is provided a series of ratchet teeth 14.There is also provided a lever 15 having one end 16 bifurcated so as tostraddle both the handle member 4 and the handle member 3 and wherestraddling the handle member 3 the bifurcated end of the lever 15 istraversed by the pivot pin or bolt 9 passed through a perforation 3, sothatthe lever may be turned upon the pin or bolt 9 asv apivot orfulcrum.

Where the bifurcated end of the lever joins the handleend of the levershoulders 17 are formed, and entering the handle portion of the lever isan elongated cavity 18 housing a spring 19 andthe butt end of a dog 2,0which may be in the form of an elongated block or rod having at one enda tooth 21 extending into the space between the legs 0f the bifurcatedend of the lever. 'The springV 19 tends to force the dog 20 outwardlybut the projecting movement of the dog is limited by a pin 22 traversingthe dog and extending through oppositely situated elongated slots 23 inthe handle portion or" the lever 15, the pin- 22 being sufficientlyprolonged to be accessible to an operator for moving the dog in adirection against the action of the spring 19. The tooth or nose end 21of the dog 20 is shaped and located to engage the ratchet teeth 14,

while the shoulders 17 are moving along the ledges 13. i

In order to insure a goodl fit of the dog 20 in its sliding movement inthe handle 15 a collar 24 may be inserted in the cavity 18. at its openend to receive the dog, such collar being welded or otherwise united tothe handle, which, of course, in an instrument of this character is madeof metal.

In order to adjust the distance of the jaws 1 and 2 from each other, thehandle member 3 is laterally enlarged in line with the slot 5, thislateral enlargement being indicated at 25 and the handle member is thereprovided with a threaded passage for a thumb screw 26 which may be movedlengthwise of the slot 5 into engagement with the pivot pin 6, so thatwhen the pivot pin or bolt is suiiiciently loosened it may be moved inthe slot 5 to the desired position by the thumb screw 26, and this screwwill hold the pivotal Aposition of the jaws from disarrangement in thedirection to enlarge the opening of the jaws which might occur with theelongated slot and the pivot pin traversing it under the pressureemployed in causing the jaws to grip a pipe or rod.

If it be assumed that the pivot 6 has been appropriately adjusted topermit the desired spreading of the jaws for application to a pipe orrod, this spreading of the jaws may be performed by moving the clampinglever 15 so that the dog 2O is opposite the concaved side of the curvedportion 10 of the handle member 4. rlhe jaws are now applied to thedrill rod in close relation to the casing and are moved by amanipulation of themembers 7 and 12 into engagement with the drill rod,and then the clamping lever or handle 15 is moved about the pivot 9 in adirection away from the jaws to bring the shouldersV 17 into engagementwith the'ledges 13, and these ledges being in cam relation to the pivot9 the shoulders will move along theY ledges in such a ymanner as to tendto force the handle member 4 toward the handle member 3 on the side ofthe pivot 6 remote from the jaws, and thus tend to cause the jaws toapproach into tighter and tighter gripping relation to the drill rod asthe l clamping handle or lever 15 is moved at its manipulating end awayfrom the gripping jaws. The result of this action is that the jaws ofthe tongs may be made to engage the 'rod with a force far in excess ofany that a workmanV could apply to the ends of the manipulatingextensions 7 and 12, and, moreover, the engagement of the nose of thedog 2O behind an appropriate one of the teeth 14 will loclr the tongs inthe gripping position.

The firmness with which the tongs grip the rod effectively prevents anyslipping of the rod lengthwise, and the weight of the rod even though itmay be hundreds of feet in length is sustained bythe tongs resting onthe exposed end of the casing of the boring against any possibility ofslipping or disengagement, and more effectively than is brought about bythe ordinary pipe clamp customarily employed for a like purpose.Moreover, the manipulating members 7 and 12 provide a means whereby aworkman may readily prevent turning of the drill rod while a section isbeing applied to or removed from the rod at a point above the partgripped by the tongs, This means that the rod is most effectivelysupported, and but'a single wrench is needed by a workman to screwanother rod section in place or unscrew an upper rod section from therod supported by the tongs.

When it is desired to remove the tongs it is only necessary to grasp theclamping lever or handle 15 and move it in the tightening direction toan extent sufficient to loosen the dog 2O which may then be withdrawnfrom engagement with the teeth 14 against the action of the spring 19,this being accomplished by means of the pin 22 which is easily actuatedby the fingers of one hand of the operator, whereupon the clampinghandle may be moved toward the aw end of the tongs until the dog isopposite the concave portion of the curve 10 and the handles of thetongs may be separated to in turn separate the jaws out of engagingrelation to the pipe or rod. In Fig. 1 there is indicated in dottedlines a pipe 27 which may be taken as typical of either a pipe or a rodor any other structure to which the tongs are adapted.

l/Vhere diamond drilling is in progress, the tongs may be adjusted as tothe spread of the jaws to correspond with the diameter of the drill rodor rods, and in the case of piping, such as employed in deep wells, thejaws may be further adjusted so that they may be made to grip a pipe ofconsiderable diameter and hold it against dropping into the well.

The invention is also adapted for use as an ordinary pipe wrench ortongs where the necessity of the clamping handle is not always present,but whenever a particularly strong grip of the tongs upon a pipe or rodis needed the clamping handle or lever may be manipulated in the manneralready described to produce a grip beyond the powers of an operatorgrasping the handles 7 and 12, and this grip will be maintained whetherthe operator releases the handle extensions 7 and 12 or not and thetongs may be removed from the pipe only by the release of the clampinghandle or lever 15.

What is claimed is 1. A pipe tongs comprising two handle members pivotedtogether and each terminating in a jaw in fixed relation thereto, and aclamping lever on one of said handle members connected thereto adjacentto the pivot connection between the two handle members and mounted formovement independently of the movement of either handle member, and theother handle member having a cam surface also adjacent to the pivotconnection between the two handles and in cooperative relation to theclamping lever to cause an approach of the jaws on the movement of theclamping lever along the cam surface.

2. A pipe tongs comprising two handle members pivoted together and eachterminating in a jaw in fixed relation thereto, and

a lever mounted on one handle member adjacent to and on the side of thepivot connection of the two handle members remote from the jaws andmovable independently of either handle member in cooperative relation tothe other handle member, the said other handle member being shaped toprovide an engaging surface for the lever in cam relation thereto andsaid lever and engaging surface being constructed and related to causethe approach of the jaws of the tongs on a movement of the lever in adirection away from said jaws.

3. A pipe tongs comprising two members pivoted together, and terminatingin gripping jaws laterally expanded, said members being of a combinedthickness equal to the thickness of either jaw, one of said membersbeing adjustable lengthwise of the other to regulate the opening of thejaws, and a clamping lever mounted on one of said members adjacent tothe pivot connection between the mem-bers and movable with lrelation tothe other member independently of either member, said other memberhaving a cam surface engaged by the clamping lever to cause the approachof the jaws on the movement of the lever in one direction of its travel.

4f. A pipe tongs comprising two members pivoted together and terminatingin gripping jaws laterally expanded, said members being of a combinedthickness equal to the thickness of either jaw, one of said membersbeing adjustable lengthwise of the other to regulate the opening of thejaws, and a clamping lever mounted on one of said inembers adjacent tothe pivot connection between the members and movable with relation tothe other member independently of either member, and such other memberhaving a cam surface provided with a series of teeth, the clamping leverbeing provided with a yieldable latch member in position to engage theteeth of the cam portion of the said handle member.

5. A pipe tongs comprising two members terminating in gripping jawslaterally expanded, the members being pivoted together and of a combinedthickness equal to the thickness of the jaws, one of said members beingadjustable lengthwise of the other to regulate the opening of the jaws,and a clamping handle or lever pivoted to one of said members andmovable with relation to the other member and such other member having acam surface engaged by the clamping handle or lever to cause theapproach of the jaws on the movement of the lever in one direction ofits travel, the clamping handle or lever being provided with a latchmember and the cam portion of the handle member of the tongs having thecam portion provided with a series of teeth adapted to be engaged by thelatch member, the said latch member being pro-vided with a 'springurging it toward the i teeth and with a manipulating member accessiblefor moving the latch member away from the teeth.

6. A pipe tongs having two jaws with the handle extensions thereofpivoted together, one of said extensions on the side of the jaw remotefrom the pivot and adjacent to the latter having a portion in camrelation to the other extension, and a clamping lever carried by theother member adjacent Ito the pivot connection between the two memberswith means for engaging the cam portion of the first named member andlocking thereto in different positions of adjustment, the cam portionbeing related to the other part of the tongs to cause the approach ofthe jaws on the movement of the clamping lever away from the jaws of thetongs.

7. A pipe tongs comprising two members pivoted together and eachterminating at one end in a jaw in coactive relation to the other jawand at the other ends prolonged into manipulating portions7 and a clamplever pivoted to one member on the side of the pivot connection betweenthe two members remote from the jaws and between the pivot connectionand the manipulating portions and extending to and beyond the othermember and beyond the latter formed into a manipulating handle saidlever andextension of the tongs member beyond which it projects havingco-acting parts in cam relation to the pivot of the leverrto cause theapproach of the jaws on the movement of the lever in one direction aboutits pivot.

,8. A pipe tongs comprising two members each provided with a jaw, saidmembers being pivoted together and one of the members being providedwith means for the adjustment of the pivot connection lengthwise of suchmember to enlarge or contract the opening of the jaws, and a hand leverpivoted to one of the tongs members adjacent to and on the side of thetongs pivot remote from the jaws and in operative relation to the othermember and also movable actively independently of both tongs members,said lever and other member having coacting parts constructed to causethe gradual approach of the jaws of the tongs on the movement of thelever in one direction about its pivot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afHXedmy signature in the presence ot' two witnesses.

Y WESLEY HOSER.

Vitnesses:

EMIL STREHLOW, M. E. BRANDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

